Another account.
Washington, N. C., June 7, 1862.
During last week and the early part of the present, we were frequently annoyed by scouting parties of the rebels, who came within a short distance of the town and continually threatened it. Indeed, so likely appeared an attack, (and no doubt our weak position here at the time invited it,) that reinforcements were sent for, while every preparation was made to resist any inroad which the prowling bands might make.
On Thursday morning a reconnoissance in force started from here, under command of Lieut.-Col. Osborn, commanding the Twenty--fourth Massachusetts regiment, accompanied by Col. Potter, of the First North-Carolina (Union) volunteers, and Lieuts. Strong and Pendleton--the two latter officers acting as Aids.
The expedition consisted of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts regiment, company I of the Third New-York cavalry, under command of Capt. Jocknick and Lieut. Allis, and a detachment from Col. Howard's marine artillery, under command of Lieut. Avery.
The infantry and artillery having taken up the line of march, formed a junction with the cavalry on the outskirts of the town, when all advanced along the Greenville road, while the gunboat Picket, Capt. Nichols, proceeded up Tar River, and shelled the woods ahead.
We crossed Cherry Run, and reached Four Corners without any incident of note occurring, and without the slightest trace of the enemy.
We were now a mile from Tranter's Creek, and as it was known that the bridge on the main or Greenville road had been destroyed, the column took another road on the right, which crossed the creek a little distance higher up.
The road near where it crosses the bridge, descends through a ravine or gorge, and turning suddenly to the left, skirts along by the edge of the creek, which at this point is more properly a wide pond or swamp, filled with stumps of trees.
On the bridge are a saw-mill and cotton-gin, whose power is derived from the flowing of the water.
The rebels had taken up the boards of the bridge between the two buildings, and with them constructed a breastwork, if it might be so called, near the cotton-gin.
The column at length got in motion again from the widow's house, and the skirmishers having descended the ravine, cautiously moved toward the bridge.
Suddenly, they discovered a row of heads behind the breastwork of boards, and the guns all levelled toward them.
Sergeant Shepard and a companion fired, and a heavy volley came in return.
Lieut. Jarves fell at the first fire.
The rest of the advance returned the volley, and then fell back on the main body.
Col. Osborn immediately ordered forward the artillery, and in less time than it takes to narrate it, the gallant marines, under Lieut. Avery, came dashing down the hill with their guns, which they stationed, one bearing on the enemy's front, through the arch of the saw-mill, the other to the left of the bridge, and raking the enemy on their right flank.
The main body of the infantry also came forward on the double-quick, while Capt. Jocknick formed his cavalry on the brow of the hill, ready to charge the enemy at the decisive moment, though, as it afterwards happened, no opportunity was afforded to his men to strike a blow.
On account of the narrowness of the road, only three companies of the infantry could be brought into action at once, and the rest were disposed of in the rear, where they were ordered to lie down.
With one company in the road and one on either side, the engagement regularly opened on our side.
Lieut. Avery discharged several rounds of shell and canister at the enemy's position; for they were so concealed in the bridge and behind the trees as to be completely out of sight.
The infantry poured a terrific fire across and on either side of the bridge, the riddled beams and posts of which soon gave token of the showers of balls which were passing and repassing.
A number of rebels had secreted themselves in the loft of the cotton-gin, and were firing very briskly when driven out by a shell which Lieut. Avery lodged in the building.
Others again were discovered ensconced in the tree-tops on the opposite side of the creek.
Lieut. Avery elevated his piece and fired a couple of rounds of canister through the branches, whereupon several bodies were seen to fall to the ground, at sight of which our boys burst into a prolonged cheer or yell.
The steady firing of the artillery and the volleys from the Twenty-fourth, at length drove the rebels from the bridge, and falling back they kept up a desultory fire from the trees and the edge of the creek.
At length the word was given to charge.
The artillery fired a round to clear the way, and under cover of the smoke and the effects of the canister, our boys, with fixed bayonets, dashed upon the bridge, and headed by Col. Potter, advanced on a run to a point where the boards had been taken up. Replacing them as best they could, they passed over, and found themselves undisputed occupants of the field, for the rebels had field down the creek and through the woods, leaving behind them three of their dead, and a large quantity of muskets, shot-guns, swords, sabres, and other weapons.
Their rout was thorough and complete.
The ground was covered with pools of blood, showing that their loss was pretty heavy, though it is impossible to ascertain the exact figures, as they carried off all their dead and wounded, except the three bodies above referred to, which they could not rescue, owing to the heavy fire of our artillery on the spot where they were lying.
At the opposite side of the bridge the rebels had thrown up a temporary breastwork of cotton bales in an angular shape, with the corner nearest the approach 